Plant ID card |
|
|---|---|
Botanical name |
Cypripedium calceolus. |
Common name |
Venus's Slipper, Virgin's Shoe, Notre-Dame's Slipper. |
Family |
Orchidaceae. |
Origin |
Eurasia. |
Dimensions |
From 20 to 70 cm in height. |
Foliage |
Lapsed. The stems emerge in April and during May produce oval, ribbed leaves, light green in color, measuring between 15 and 18 cm. |
Bloom |
The flowers of the European Venus slipper appear between May and June. They are made up of brown tepals with an elongated and twisted shape, and a swollen lip of bright yellow color, shaped like a slipper. |
Exposure |
Partial shade. |
Ground |
Acidic to neutral, rich, fresh, light. |
Rusticity |
Down to -29°C. |
Venus slipper is a mountain flower, which grows in temperate to cool climates. Despite its great hardiness, it is a fragile plant which requires a suitable location, substrate and care to develop. Reserved for experienced gardeners!
Why is
Cypripedium calceolus
called Venus' slipper?
The common name of
Cypripedium calceolus
comes from the original shape of its flowers, notably the shoe-shaped lip.
(or slipper) which is outlined in the middle of the tepals. Legend has it that this plant grew following the passage of
the goddess
Venus, who lost one of her golden hooves
in the forest while fleeing a shepherd. Note that there is another variety of orchid which also bears the nickname Venus Slipper: it is
Paphiopedilum
, a genus of tropical orchids of Asian origin.
Where to find the Venus slipper?
The European Venus slipper grows naturally in mountainous areas. In France, it is mainly found
in the Alps
, particularly in the Hauts de Chartreuse Nature Reserve.
Victim of picking, this flower is becoming
increasingly rare in its natural environment
. However, it is found in garden centers in the form of plants sold in pots. Be careful to plant it during its rest period, when there are no stems or leaves.
Where does the Venus slipper grow?
To flourish, the Venus slipper needs very specific conditions. This is why it is not recommended for beginner gardeners.
Climate:
Cypripedium calceolus
is a mountain plant that appreciates cool to temperate climates. It is very hardy, but cannot tolerate heat or drought. Its cultivation is therefore reserved mainly for Alpine gardens;
Exposure:
plant your Venus slippers in shade or partial shade, in a location exposed to the sun only in the morning;
Soil:
Cypripedium calceolus
thrives in fresh, rich and aerated soil. It is advisable to surround the rhizome with a draining material such as pozzolan to prevent rot, and to add gravel and pine bark to the substrate.
How to take care of a Venus slipper?
European Venus slipper usually flowers between May and June, a few weeks after the leaves appear. Copyright (c) 2021 Roman Bjuty/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
If the climate is favorable, you can cultivate the Venus slipper by providing it with the following care:
Watering:
fearing humidity,
Cypripedium calceolus
must be watered without excess, while ensuring that the soil is cool in summer;
Pruning:
Venus hoof does not need to be trimmed. Flowers and faded stems can be removed once the flowering period has passed, from August onwards.
When does Venus slipper flower?
The European Venus slipper usually flowers
between May and June
, a few weeks after the leaves appear. Each
Cypripedium calceolus
plant
produces one to two flowers.
How to make
Cypripedium calceolus
bloom again ?
Once the flowering period has passed,
you have to wait until the following year
before seeing its Venus slippers produce new flowers. After leafing out, the plant rests so it can survive the winter. The rhizome develops and divides from year to year to give rise to new shoots, which will produce new flowers.